Adam Lambert: American Idol's Grand Prize Loser

Adam Lambert has reminded me the entire 2009 American Idol season of Hillary Clinton and her bid for the presidency. Just as Hillary Clinton was preordained to be the Democratic nominee, Adam Lambert was picked and packaged by American Idol as the pre arranged winner of this season's American Idol.

America was informed by Paula Abdul on the first episode that Adam Lambert was the next American Idol. In another episode Kara DioGuardi informed us that Adam Lambert was a Rock God. Week after week Simon Cowell looked as if he wanted to bolt from his judge's seat and rush on stage with the trophy, ending the season then and there. Randy Jackson was the lone judge with the ability to keep his emotions in check. He always acknowledged the musical talent of Adam Lambert, but never prematurely bestowed the title of American Idol on him.

Each week the song selections for the cast singing sections were obviously geared toward Adam's highest vocal pitch and sense of theatrics. As a performer on American Idol, Adam was in a league of his own. However, as the producers and judges separated him from the other performers, the show slowly became, American Idol, with special guest Adam Lambert. It seemed as if each week the producers were trying to outdo themselves in how many ways they could showcase Adam.

America loved the theatrics that were unfolding in the 2009 American Idol season. There has never been what looked like a runaway star on the show. Adam seemed to perfectly fill the bill. He came equipped with a set of Robert Plant like pipes and a swagger and confidence never before seen on the Idol stage. It looked as if a perfect season was in play. Then the warning shot was fired. Adam landed in the bottom three. That weeks' results should have provided clues to the producers that America was smelling a rat.

We knew that Adam was a brilliant performer and talented singer. We also knew that Adam was being forced down our collective throats. By the power of his talent he deserved to be on the Idol stage. But a high note and Elvis like sneer, does not an Idol make. In order to be an American Idol it takes a connection with the audience. We all know that Gods rarely visit with commoners and when they do, it usually comes with a sense of detachment. In general, we look up to someone who we feel is like us. A person who has struggled and found his way out of a hopeless situation.

When Kara DioGuardi placed the crown of "Rock God" upon Adam's head, she alerted the audience that something was afoot and inherently unfair. She sealed the deal in the finale by choosing a song that was in the vocal range of Adam and not even close to the range of Kris Allen. Kira, picking a song that showcases one performer at the expense of another is called rigging. We know Adam is a great artist. We also know when we are being told whom to vote for. Kira, in these parts, we don't do it that way. If Adam had been allowed to stand on his own worth, it might have turned out different. It's too bad that we'll never know.

Congratulations, Kris Allen. You, are an American Idol

Sources
The American Idol season of 2009